Ormondville Rail Preservation Group Inc.

Pea, Pie & 'Pud Express 

Brebner Print Art Deco Weekend- 15 February 2003

(Part One)

When ORPG Inc. takes on catering excursion trains, we do it with a combination of terror and desperation (for an income). We catered morning tea and dinner for a Railway Enthusiasts Society's 'Hubs & Spokes' diesel-powered excursion at Labour Weekend 2000. This involved feeding about 100 passengers plus around 20-30 others (our workers etc.). While we could cope with that ourselves, 400 excursionist plus support staff was clearly a bit beyond the station's kitchen.

The Hubs & Spokes visit went so well because we went for simplicity - and also to try to emulate the old-style railway cafeterias. This is how the 'pea, pie and 'pud' (i.e. mashed spuds with peas, good quality mince pies and gravy) idea came into being. Naturally we buy the pies, while the rest is fairly straight forward (in theory). Despite the behind-the-scenes traumas revolving around such a huge high-speed catering job, the meal has been highly accepted - to our relief. On this occasion, we served over 400 people in about one hour.

The secret this time was that we had easy access to a 'retired' army field kitchen (part-owned by a committee member's brother - who also operated it with various support people). This could easily have fed another hundred or so people if necessary, and the work asked of it was straightforward.

The train was a bit late due to having to wait for a goods train to go through ahead of it, however, we knew where on the journey it was and thus could plan the meal time to suit. So we could feed the masses right on cue and thereby amazing everyone - including ourselves.

The photos - and the Hawkes Bay Today article that follows - will outline things. However, suffice to say, the Ormondville pub was effectively drunk dry (due to the extra hour the passengers had to remain in town), and an amazing time was had by all. Ormondville has never had so many multicoloured feathers to clean up before! These previously adorned an assortment of finery (such as feather boas) worn by the passengers who were dressed to suit the era in which Art Deco originated. 

Setting up

The agapanthus in full bloom!!

The kitchen - across the road from the station

The dinner tables and our fancy letterbox. On the right in the distance is the Settlers' Arms Hotel.

The coffee bar at the ready under the verandah of the former village grocery shop

Now to await the train...